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Phil Clark's fantasy football outlook for Los Angeles Chargers running back Omarion Hampton in 2025. Where is Hampton worth drafting in redraft and dynasty leagues?
Much of the hype surrounding the 2025 rookie class has been focused on this year’s collection of running backs. This has been a byproduct of the enticing depth that exists with this year’s group of first-year backs, along with the potential for some newcomers to seize integral roles with the franchises that selected them during the NFL Draft.
Those factors have also ignited significant interest from fantasy managers, who have dedicated months of preparation toward their fantasy drafts in order to determine which rookie backs should be targeted for their rosters.
25 running backs were selected during the recent NFL Draft. However, Omarion Hampton and Ashton Jeanty were the only two backs from this year‘s rookie class who secured first-round draft capital. Hampton is now primed to become a valuable resource for the Chargers, along with anyone who selects the impressive first-year back during their fantasy drafts.
Omarion Hampton NFL Rookie Profile
Team: Los Angeles Chargers
College: North Carolina
Height: 5-foot-11 ¾ inches
Weight: 221 pounds
Age: 22 (3/16/2003)
Arm Length: 30 1/2 inches
Hand Size: 9 1/4 inches
2025 NFL Draft: Round 1, Pick 22
Omarion Hampton’s Path To A First-Round Selection
Omarion Hampton's four seasons of varsity football at Cleveland High School in Clayton, N.C., facilitated his ascent into an eventual first-round selection by Los Angeles. Hampton was also involved in basketball and track and established multiple school records in weightlifting.
| Year | Games | Attempts | Yards | Yards/Gm | TDs |
| 21-22 | 12 | 161 | 1948 | 162.3 | 39 |
| 20-21 | 5 | 58 | 685 | 137 | 13 |
| 19-20 | 14 | 250 | 2402 | 171.6 | 35 |
| 18-19 | 11 | 48 | 334 | 30.4 | 1 |
| Total | 42 | 517 | 5369 | 127.8 | 88 |
Hampton excelled as a running back while accumulating 517 rushing attempts and eclipsing 160+ twice during his four seasons with the Rams. He also generated 5,369 rushing yards, averaged 10.4 yards per attempt, and surpassed 1,900+ during his sophomore and senior years. He also exceeded 100 yards in 28 different matchups and produced 88 touchdowns.
Meet Mr. Football finalist Omarion Hampton (@omarionhampton) of Cleveland High School (@cvhsftbl).
North Carolina's biggest high school football award will be handed out tonight at 8.
Read/Watch: https://t.co/qsHQfd4OuX pic.twitter.com/4Ei1pvGsFV
— The Charlotte Observer (@theobserver) December 8, 2021
That includes Hampton’s numbers as a senior, when he carried 161 times (13.4 per game), generated 1,948 yards (162.3 per game), averaged 12.1 yards per attempt, and assembled 39 touchdowns.
He also collected 28 receptions, while amassing 503 receiving yards and eight touchdowns as a pass-catcher during his final three seasons.
| Year | Games | Rec | Yards | Yards/Gm | TDs |
| 21-22 | 12 | 11 | 272 | 22.7 | 3 |
| 20-21 | 5 | 3 | 26 | 5.2 | 1 |
| 19-20 | 14 | 14 | 205 | 14.6 | 4 |
| Total | 42 | 28 | 503 | 66 | 8 |
Hampton was also named the 2021-22 North Carolina Gatorade Football Player of the Year and was The Charlotte Observer's Mr. Football for North Carolina. He also became a four-star prospect and emerged as 24/7 Sports’ 11th overall running back during 2022.
Hampton enrolled at North Carolina in July 2022 after receiving offers from a list of schools that included Michigan, Ohio State, Auburn, Tennessee, Florida, LSU, Arkansas, Kentucky, Miami, Penn State, and Wisconsin.
Omarion Hampton Excels At North Carolina
#UNC has landed 4-star RB Omarion Hampton from Cleveland High School. Omarion played 5 games last season where he averaged 137.0 YPG and 11.81 YPC. Hampton chose the Tar Heels over Penn State and Florida. pic.twitter.com/NLzXt9tK8A
— Tar Heel Insider (@tarheelinsiders) July 22, 2021
Hampton’s decision propelled him to an impressive array of numbers during three seasons with the Tar Heels. Hampton played in 13 contests as a freshman, carried 88 times (6.8 per game), and generated 401 rushing yards (30.8 yards per game). He also became the first true freshman at North Carolina since 1946 to eclipse 100 yards during his first game, and he amassed 100+ during two of his first three matchups.
Watch: @UNCFootball RB Omarion Hampton (@OmarionHampton) hit a max speed of 20.1 mph on this 54-yard touchdown. #ReelSpeed #UNCommon
🎥: @theACCDN
🔗 https://t.co/orrD059ykP pic.twitter.com/qCsYzep05u
— Reel Analytics (@RAanalytics) November 6, 2023
Hampton started 12 games as a sophomore while functioning as the Tar Heels’ primary back. He accumulated 253 attempts (19.5 per game) and 1,504 rushing yards (115.7 per game) while averaging 5.9 yards per attempt and producing 15 touchdowns. He was also named a Walter Camp first-team All-American.
| Season | Attempts | Att/Gm | Yards | YPG | YPA | TDs |
| 2022 | 88 | 6.8 | 401 | 30.8 | 4.6 | 6 |
| 2023 | 253 | 19.5 | 1504 | 115.7 | 5.9 | 15 |
| 2024 | 281 | 23.4 | 1660 | 138.3 | 5.9 | 15 |
| 2024 | Yards | Yards/Gm | Yards/Att | Attempts | Att/Gm |
| Ashton Jeanty | 2601 | 185.8 | 7 | 374 | 26.7 |
| Cameron Skattebo | 1711 | 131.6 | 5.8 | 293 | 22.5 |
| Omarion Hampton | 1660 | 138.3 | 5.9 | 281 | 23.4 |
| Bryson Daily | 1659 | 127.6 | 5.4 | 310 | 23.8 |
| Tre Stewart | 1638 | 117 | 5.9 | 278 | 19.9 |
| R.J. Harvey | 1577 | 131.4 | 6.8 | 232 | 19.3 |
| Kaleb Johnson | 1537 | 128.1 | 6.4 | 240 | 20 |
| Tahj Brooks | 1505 | 136.8 | 5.3 | 286 | 26 |
| Dylan Sampson | 1491 | 114.7 | 5.8 | 258 | 19.8 |
| Makhi Hughes | 1401 | 100.1 | 5.3 | 265 | 18.9 |
Hampton rose to third among all backs in rushing yards during 2024 (1,660/138.3 per game). He also finished sixth in attempts (281/23.4 per game) and established career highs in both categories.
North Carolina RB Omarion Hampton Since 2023:
🔵 92.3 PFF Grade (6th)
🔵 3,160 Rush Yards (2nd)
🔵 2,294 Yards AFTER Contact (2nd)
🔵 79 Explosive Runs (3rd)
🔵 140 Missed Tackles Forced (6th) pic.twitter.com/p38JxfU3nK— PFF College (@PFF_College) March 12, 2025
Hampton also vaulted to second in yards after contact (1,222), tied for fourth in carries of 15+ yards (26), and finished 10th in missed tackles forced (73), according to PFF.
5 TDs. 253 all-purpose yards.
OMARION HAMPTON, EVERYBODY 😳👏
📺 @accnetwork x @UNCFootball
pic.twitter.com/8A0ZNTd7a6— ACC Football (@ACCFootball) November 2, 2024
He also finished his collegiate career with 3,565 rushing yards (93.8 per game) and 36 rushing touchdowns. Hampton was also a two-time finalist for the Doak Walker Award and was named a first-team AFCA All-American in 2024.
Hampton also captured 73 of his 82 targets and accumulated 635 yards as a receiving weapon during his tenure. That includes the career-high results that he secured in 2024 (44 targets/38 receptions/373 yards).
Omarion Hampton's Encouraging Numbers At The NFL Combine
Hampton was among the 31 running backs who attended the NFL Combine, and his performance sustained his rising stock, which culminated with his first-round selection.
Omarion Hampton ran a 4.46.
Gonna thrive in a Jim Harbaugh offense 🔥 pic.twitter.com/Z2kRpmSJdr
— DraftKings (@DraftKings) April 25, 2025
Hampton completed the 40-yard dash in 4.46, while tying for second among all backs in the broad jump (10 feet 10 inches). He also registered a 38-inch vertical jump and accumulated 18 reps on the bench press.
Omarion Hampton is a RB prospect in the 2025 draft class. He scored a 9.70 RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 64 out of 2099 RB from 1987 to 2025.https://t.co/ceou1zw2q1 pic.twitter.com/7Yj23y6sIb
— RAS.football (@MathBomb) April 8, 2025
Hampton also secured a RAS (Relative Athletic Score) of 9.70 out of a possible 10.00. That vaulted him to 64th out of 2,099 running backs who participated at the combine from 1987 to 2025.
Omarion Hampton Should Seize A Sizable Role In The Chargers Offense
With the No. 22 overall pick in the 2025 @NFLDraft, the @chargers select Omarion Hampton. @NewEraCap
📺: #NFLDraft on NFLN/ESPN/ABC
📱: Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/xSY1uEsJyn— NFL (@NFL) April 25, 2025
Jim Harbaugh and general manager Joe Hortiz were hired by the Chargers in January 2024 and inherited an offense that ranked 26th in rushing play percentage during 2023 (39.0%). The Chargers had also finished 24th in attempts per game (25.4) and 25th in yards per game (96.6).
Those numbers improved during 2024, as Los Angeles rose to 10th in rushing play percentage (45.5 percent), 11th in attempts per game (27.2), and 17th in yards per game (110.7).
jk dobbins the man that u are
📺 | @nfloncbs pic.twitter.com/YZGjq4cXYm
— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) September 8, 2024
Los Angeles primarily utilized J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards in a rotation throughout the season, as the 26-year-old Dobbins reestablished his presence within the fantasy landscape. He led the Chargers in attempts (195/15.0 per game) and rushing yards (905/69.6 per game) while securing career highs in both categories. Dobbins also tied his career best with nine touchdowns.
Dobbins also delivered career highs in red-zone attempts (31) and points per game (14.8) and vaulted to 10th in explosive yards (296), according to Fantasy Points Data. However, Dobbins remains unsigned despite his numbers in 2024. The infusion of Hampton and Najee Harris into the Chargers' backfield equation should also prevent him from resurfacing with the team.
Gus Edwards caps off a 13-play, 79-yard drive for the @Chargers first TD of the night!
📺: #LACvsKC on NBC/Peacock
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/zbOQ49WAzl— NFL (@NFL) December 9, 2024
Gus Edwards is also unsigned after finishing second behind Dobbins in attempts (101/9.2 per game), rushing yards (365/33.2 per game), and touchdowns (four).
Those numbers represented a significant decline from 2023, when Edwards accumulated 198 carries (11.6 per game), 810 yards (47.6 per game), and tied for third overall with a career-best 13 touchdowns. Edwards also registered career-lows in yards per attempt (3.6) and yards before contact per attempt (1.2).
The Chargers also ranked 31st in targets to running backs (11.3 percent) as Dobbins easily paced the backfield with 38 targets/10.1 percent share.
Omarion Hampton is closer to Ashton Jeanty than most people realize. Ankle breaker. Bell cow. And when nothing is there, he’ll still get you 4-5 yards
— Chris Simms (@CSimmsQB) April 25, 2025
Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Greg Roman can now integrate Hampton into their reshaped backfield. That should propel Hampton to favorable numbers during 2025, while providing him with the opportunity to expand his workload even further during 2026 and beyond.
Omarion Hampton's Competition for Touches
Chargers expected to sign RB Najee Harris to one-year deal worth up to $9.25 million. (via @rapsheet, @mikegarafolo, @Tompelissero) pic.twitter.com/g3cCBkyHZT
— NFL (@NFL) March 11, 2025
Hampton will function in a rotation with Harris, who topped the list of winners at the running back position during free agency. The one-year contract that he signed with Los Angeles in March seemingly provided a role as the Chargers’ unchallenged lead back. That also launched a significant rise in his ADP, which ascended from Round 7 (84/RB31) to Round 6 (67/RB25).
Harris played in all 68 of Pittsburgh’s regular-season contests during his four seasons with the Steelers. He also rose to second overall in carries (1,097/16.1 per game) and fifth in rushing yards (4,312/63.4 per game) from 2021-24.
Harris also finished seventh in carries (263/15.5 per game), ninth in red-zone attempts (51), and seventh in missed tackles forced (50) in 2024, according to Fantasy Points Data.
Hard to be overly excited about Najee Harris. But to his credit:
* Has never missed an NFL game in four seasons, insane for a running back.
* Had 9 runs of 20+ yards last season. Only Derrick Henry, Saquon Barkley, Jahmyr Gibbs, Jonathan Taylor had more. https://t.co/oakM03KcT0— Adam Levitan (@adamlevitan) March 11, 2025
However, the Chargers backfield was transformed when Los Angeles invested in Hampton during Round 1 of the NFL Draft. Hampton’s impending arrival has eviscerated Harris’ prospects of operating with a massive workload throughout the regular season.
Harris will still share touches with Hampton, but he will not operate with the workhorse role that appeared achievable immediately after he secured his deal with the Chargers. Los Angeles could also forgo the opportunity to re-sign Harris in 2026 after entrusting Hampton with an escalating percentage of touches as the 2025 season progresses.
Omarion Hampton's Fantasy Football Outlook
Just a quick PSA for any dynasty gamers fading Omarion Hampton’s because of Najee Harris.
Harris is NOT stopping this guy from taking over the backfield.
— Dave Ventresca (@FF_Stallion) May 8, 2025
The presence of Harris should not deter you from targeting Hampton for your rosters. No back is lurking as a threat to siphon touches from Hampton or Harris on a Los Angeles depth chart that is comprised of Hassan Haskins, Kimani Vidal, and undrafted free agent Raheim Sanders.
Omarion Hampton has the balance and quick feet of a much much smaller RB.
He's 6'0" and 220 pounds! pic.twitter.com/73EwgPYEuh
— Jacob Gibbs (@jagibbs_23) March 7, 2025
Hampton operates with an enticing blend of size, strength, and balance. He also performs with a purpose, which fuels his ability to run through contact.
Omarion Hampton:
#2 best RB *in the last DECADE* in YPC on runs when hit behind the line
#2 in highest percentage of team's entire touches (44%)
#2 in highest % of team's entire receptions (17%)
96th percentile in explosion score in jumping drills
profile of a true workhorse… pic.twitter.com/JgfZvmtGBZ
— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) March 13, 2025
Hampton earned a zone grade of 88.6 and a gap grade of 78.9 from PFF in 2024 and should perform proficiently in any scheme that Roman designs. He can be effective as a receiving weapon and is also an adequate blocker.
Omarion Hampton
- physical, workhorse style
- Can win outside, but excels inside
- Power runner - should be good goal line/short yard runner
- Speed for chunk plays, but not a HR hitter
- can catch out the backfieldCeiling comp is David Montgomery, floor Brian Robinson Jr
— Michael F. Florio (@MichaelFFlorio) April 25, 2025
Hampton should seize a respectable role during the initial weeks of the regular season, and his weekly touch totals should expand as the year progresses. This contributes to his promising outlook, which has been formed by the convergence of his excellent talent and the massive opportunity that will unfold in an environment that will sustain an unrelenting commitment to the run.
These factors should incentivize you to prioritize Hampton in Round 4 of your upcoming best ball drafts. He should also be cemented as the second back to be selected during your rookie drafts.
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